Extender

Extender is an additive to adhesive or binder used in plywood or panel manufacture, to conserve resin and improve the performance of the adhesive. The principal function of an extender is to facilitate the most effective spread of active glue solids on the wood. To met this objective, a good extender must be compatible with al in-use resins and fillers and work well in any glue application system.

Glu-X

Glu-X is a special glue extender milled expressly as the protein-starch adhesive extender for the wood panel (plywood) industry. It is milled from wheat. The type of wheat, soft red winter, comes from seed adapted for the climate in the Southern Ohio Valley. It is a proprietary product (from a trade secret process) developed with the technical contributions of plywood manufacturing experts, master millers, adhesive scientist and cereal chemists. It is a natural organic material containing a USDA-approved inert lignocellulosic additive to qualify it as a “non-food” industrial product and improve performance in some applications. There are no chemicals involved in product or processing.

What it is not: It is not “flour” in the usual sense. It is not clear flour nor second clears. Food flour may be “strong” or “weak” and often contains chemicals that can interfere with gluing. Clears, first clears, second clears, etc. are of low quality and are highly inconsistent because they are by-products.

Glu-X was used in more than 90% of the new start-ups in the Southern Pine Industry. It works well in all general application systems -- spreader, curtain, spray and foam. Glu-X has a history of more than 50 years in Hardwood Plywood Adhesives. It can reduce “Fracture Factor” in Composites.

Spray-X

Spray-X is Glu-X blended with an appropriate amount of corn flour especially for spray application to improve flow-through and spray patterns.

Glu-Xtra and Spray-Xtra

Two new modified special and proprietary extenders, Glu-Xtra and Spray-Xtra, have enjoyed enthusiastic reception by several hardwood (Urea Formaldehyde) people and approval by several softwood (Phenol Formaldehyde) people.

We still regard these products as new and “developmental”. However experience background has included several large plants over a considerable time and through several million pounds of success. However, with new users, we suggest careful cooperation with the glue representative as should be the case when any “new” product is introduced into the adhesive mix.

These “Xtras” are particularly helpful to those plants looking to:

1. Lower Spreads
2. Improve Tack and Flow Balance
3. Reduce Press and/or Pre-press Times (Reactivity)
4. Improve Viscosity Stability
5. Improve Bonds on “Hard-toStick” Veneers
6. Reduce Formaldehyde (HCHO) Peaks in Hardwood Urea Formaldehyde (UF) Gluing

Of course Glu-X has these benefits too but some find Glu-Xtra performance more dramatic, and both Glu-Xtra and Spray-Xtra have th emany other Glu-X benefits mentioned in our promotions. These “Xtra” products are all totally green and far better than any alternate non-Robertson extenders, but they are not miracle powders.

Recent action by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has redrawn attention to this area by ALL composite Panel Makers including particle board (PB), medium density fiberboard (MDF), oriented strandboard (OSB), and urea formaldehyde (UF) and phenol formaldehyde (PF) plywood, etc. The Composite Board Association is very much concerned as is Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association (HPVA).

Further, green manufacturing generally and increasing resin prices have turned attention to extender properties again.

Phenol flormaldehyde (PF) experience at this point indicates the first five benefits mentioned above are just as applicable to structural manufacturers as they are to urea formaldehyde (UF) hardwood makers. An important benefit could be the much-desired formaldehyde (HCHO) peak reduction in urea formaldehyde (UF) gluing.

Spray-X MM is a specially formulated product for the plywood industry. The proprietary blend of additives, including extender and filler, are mixed together to insure the customer quality and consistency in the convenience of one bag.

We have done a great deal of research and practical work over at least ten years in the composite panel area. We have found the mentioned special benefits apply to all plywood. In Particle Board and Flakeboard we have found the benefits of Glu-X, or especially Glu-Xtra, maximized by ADDING these extenders, but negative results when attempts were made to replace already meager-marginal resin content in the composite boards. These products may be helpful in reducing “edge chipping’ in Particle Board and Oriented Strandboard.

Extenders are very important but a small slice of the plywood manufacturing cost pie.